Lise Nau (nee Boorse) is the great-granddaughter and great-niece of piano tuners. She was raised near Philadelphia and studied violin, flute, voice, and guitar. She holds a Master of Music degree in Voice from UNC-Chapel Hill. For more than 10 years, she taught voice and violin to private students and worked as a semi-professional singer and violinist.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to apprentice with an established technician in 1993, Lise bought the business near Wilkes-Barre, PA from her mentor David Pavlico in 1994. Within 10 years, she had a client list of nearly 400 active customers and also served as part-time Yamaha Service Bond technician. She participated regularly in activities and continuing education opportunities of the Piano Technicians Guild.
A move back to Chapel Hill, NC in 2004 challenged her to re-create her business in a new setting, and within two years she had built a client list of 165, as well as doing regular contract tunings for UNC Music Dept. Her last (and final!) move, in 2006, was to the Washington Metro area.
Lise is an active member of the Washington, DC chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild, as well as a certified Climate Control Field Expert. She studied aural tuning methods with Rick Butler of The Butler School in Bowie, MD.
A highlight of her career thus far has been preparing and maintaining the Steinway D concert grand during a three-day recording session directed by jazz great Branford Marsalis (Marsalis Music/Rounder 7494600-052). In 2008 she undertook cosmetic restoration of the 1820 Babcock fortepiano at Riversdale House Museum in Riverdale Park, MD.
APPRECIATIONS
2009
I just wanted to say THANK YOU again for the wonderful job you did on the piano. I can't believe the difference the voicing made. It sounds so much sweeter and more mellow now. Nice to have that brassiness gone! My husband remarked on it the minute he heard it. Just in time for Christmas...thanks again!
-- Christine, University Park, MD
Recently I had the pleasure of having Lise Nau of University Park tune and make
minor repairs on my piano. She was terrific and reasonable with her
fee. She treated my piano as if it was her own. I'd recommend her
highly to anyone.
-- Sharon Garrison, University Park, MD
She can fix anything!
--
Christian Xavier Cole, Age 5,
Mitchellville, MD
Thanks for coming over to tune the piano. It sounds great! ...It was great that you were able just to come and do the tuning in the midst of the swirl of things. I look forward to doing business with you in the future.
--Anselma Dolcich-Ashley, Washington, DC
The piano sounded great and being able to have live music made a big difference. Thank you very much for making this possible.
--Arlene Reiniger, Hyattsville, MD
2008
It's so nice to see it in the hands of a professional!
--Marcia Rock, Washington, DC
I just wanted to thank you so much; the piano sounds wonderful, and I’ve played far too long…it just sounds bright and clear. I can’t thank you enough!
--Janet Regier,
University Park, MD
I just want you to know how thrilled we are with the job you did on our
piano! Every time we walk into the room we are reminded of your work!!
--Ed Day, Director,
Riversdale Historic House Museum, Riversdale, MD
Thanks for coming out and fixing up my poor piano. It was just what was needed, as were your insights about condition and valuation. I somehow knew from your website that your were the real McCoy, and sure enough you are.
--Ronald Broun, Bethesda, MD
Thanks for the splendid work!
--Valerie Parsegian, Washington, DC
The piano sounds great, the regulation really helped.
--Patrick Fitzgerald, Silver Spring, MD
2007
The piano sounds great.
--Kathryn Troth Robinson, University Park, MD
2006
For those of you needing your pianos tuned or worked on, I highly recommend Lise Boorse [Nau]… She’s very reasonable and thorough. Her rate is less than half of the other tuner I’ve used. I’m a musician and am picky about tuners.
--Leslie (recommendation to community listserve), Durham, NC
What a surprise to get your thoughtful letter and enclosure…Thank you for your great service during the time you’ve been back in Chapel Hill.
--Dr. Fritz Whang (retired UNC-CH faculty, piano)
Thanks for the rate info and the references…I have called them and they sing your praises and call you conscientious and said you do good work…so, sounds good, I would like to hire you to tune my friend’s piano. Please tune it and whatever it needs to get it working again.
--Jim Cowles, Zebulon, NC
Of course we are sad to lose you, but I do hope that the move to College Park works out well. We greatly appreciate the work you have done for us, in terms not just of piano maintenance but also of making us think about how to improve things in the Music Department.
--Tim Carter (David G. Frey Distinguished Professor of Music and Chair, UNC-CH Music Dept.)
2005
Hi Lise, the piano sounds great tonight. Thanks,
--Dr. Brent Wissick (UNC-CH faculty, cello)
To Lise,
Thanks
--Branford Marsalis
We just had our piano tuned by a newcomer to the area and she was great. I’d like to help her drum up new business. Her information is…
--Misty Beil (recommendation to community listserve), Chapel Hill, NC
The department would like to thank you for your excellent work last year as one of our piano technicians. Your conscientious work habits, foresight and invested interest in the upkeep of our instruments has certainly left a favorable impression on all of us…
--Dr. Mayron Tsong (UNC-CH faculty, piano)
2004
Thank you so much for sending me the sheet music…As busy as I am sure you are, I really appreciate you taking the time to send it to me…I recall your playing of the song. It was so beautiful, very lovely. Hopefully, with time and much practice, I will be able to play it myself. Thank you, again.
--Emily Ariel, Wilkes-Barre, PA
I just wanted to let you know how glad I am that we met. I’ve really enjoyed the piano I bought from you. I wish you all the best in your move to N.C.
--Vanessa, Nanticoke, PA
Lise Boorse [Nau] has been my piano technician for the past 10 years. She has serviced pianos for me in the Lakeland School District…and at the Clarks Summit United Methodist Church…She has also taken care of my own personal piano as well as the pianos of some of my private students. Her work has been outstanding. She has not only done regular tunings on the pianos but has reconditioned some of them as well. She finds even minor problems and gets them corrected promptly. I highly recommend her work to anyone who is lucky enough to avail themselves of it.
--Shirley L. Valentine, Clarks Summit, PA
…Ms. Boorse [Nau] performed each task in a prompt and professional manner, scheduling appointments around our regimented schedule and at a cost which was reasonable…I am equally satisfied with her work on my own piano. I would highly recommend [her services] as a piano technician for your school, church, and home or anywhere music on the piano graces the environment.
--Ronald E. Wasser (Berwick Area School District Music Dept. Chairperson)
Berwick, PA
She services her clients in a highly professional and competent manner. She is a technician to whom her colleagues are comfortable in giving referrals…Lise is an asset to the trade in Northeast Pennsylvania, and is an excellent representative of the Piano Technicians Guild.
--Earl D. Orcutt, RPT (President, Pocono NE Chapter, Piano Technicians Guild)
Wilkes-Barre, PA
2003
Thanks for the work you’ve done on my piano. It sounds and feels like a new instrument.
--Bob, Hunlock Creek, PA